RE: Dingy braking - do, did, or won't
I've been RV towing since before toad braking systems were invented.......back when the only tow equipment were tow bars that were the solid A-frame type and chain you bought at the hardware store ......unlike what we have today that fold up and such with fancy cables.....
I never had an issue with being able to stop the motorhome and toad before companies like Brake Buddy were invented and I see no reason to use one now what they have been invented......
So, put me in the column of never have-and most likely never will........
My sentiments exactly.
My first vehicle towing experience was towing a 1963 Corvair Spyder from Columbia Falls, MT to Seattle, WA, behind a 1951 Ford half ton pickup, using a home-made towbar built out of a 1932 Ford front wishbone. This was, IIRC, in 1968. No problems.
Since then, I have towed several different Jeeps, using a Reese fixed-arm adjustable width towbar, a PT Cruiser on a dolly, and a 2001 dodge Ram 1500 using a Roadmaster telescoping towbar.
None of them any kind of aux. braking system, nor did they have a breakaway system. Again, no problems.
My towing vehicles were, a 1994 Dodge Ram CTD 3500 dually with a Caribou 11.5 foot camper on it, a 1995 Tioga 29 foot Class C, and a 2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V Class A.

RE: Friends from the "OOP'S" thread.
6 below this AM.
I heard a report on the 2-meter repeater that it is 9.2 below in Edgar, a little town to the South and West of us, and 5 below South of Columbus.
Clear skies and no snow.
It looks like our gift from Canada will be with us for a while.

RE: Friends from the "OOP'S" thread.
OK, got the steering rebuilt. Good thing I did it yesterday, it is 3 below this morning!
At 11 degrees, the generator would not start. So, no drill press, no grinder, no lights, but the cordless drill worked just fine.
The air compressor would not start, either, so the tire is still flat. Maybe I'll try the oil less 12 volt air compressor if it gets warm enough.

RE: Friends from the "OOP'S" thread.
Forecast high today: 11 degrees F. (it is already 12)
forecast overnight low: -5
Light snow at the present time.
Yuck!
I need to go out to the shop and repair the steering (make new tie-rod) and fix some flat tires on one of the little farm wagons we have.
Yeah, I know, shoulda done it when the weather was nice, but I procrastinated.
Oh, well, if I decide to go do it, I'll build a rip-roaring fire in the barrel stove, and hope the generator will start.
Maybe this afternoon....

RE: Shaving soap
For a while back in my shaving days, I used a shaving cup and brush, but I don't remember what soap I used. I think it was from one of the majors, like Gillette or somebody. I used a bar of Ivory once, and it worked pretty well.
When I retired, I quit shaving. I get my beard trimmed about every three months, along with a haircut (of what little hair I have left), and that's it.
My face is loving it!

RE: Four major cities outside U.S. ban diesel by 2025
I do not think such a ban will ever occur here, and I have no intention of going to any of those cities in my truck, so I'm not too concerned about it.
If diesels are ever banned in Montana cities, I will probably be long dead before it happens, so I'm not very concerned about that, either.

RE: Friends from the "OOP'S" thread.
(SIGH!)
the day finally arrived:
I am now 75 years old.
Oh, well, it is better than the alternative...
Alaska and Canada are sending us an early Christmas present.
WINTER!!!
Well, after all, it IS December!

RE: Near accident caused by failing tow bar
If I choose to stick with that style of tow bar (like the Smittybilt) and that can ideally use the universal tow bar hookups that I installed on the Jeep's bumper, are there any recommendations for better built ones? Reese?
A similar towbar by Reese is available at Walmart. $165 the last time I looked at one.
Curt also makes one.
Roadmaster Tracker is similar.
Blue Ox makes one.
A google search for "fixed arm adjustable width tow bar" got several hits.

RE: Braking Conundrum
Apparently no one noticed that the OP is shown as being in Alabama!
I really doubt that he is greatly interested in what the Canadian laws are, nor is he interested in what the laws of other states are. Reciprocity takes care of that.
However, a working knowledge of how the system works, and what maintenance is required, is, IMO, absolutely essential. No, the driver does not need to know how to overhaul anything in the system, but having knowledge of the components of the system and where they are located could be quite handy. That knowledge is readily available from the unit manufacturer, the state licensing bureau, and on the internet.
If one chooses to be the Poster Boy for the Uninformed Drivers of the world, so be it. He or she is happy that way, and the only thing for the rest of us to do is endeavor to stay out of the way.

RE: Fires in the Appalachians
I see it here in Montana quite frequently (especially Northwestern Montana).
People come in from big cities looking for a "Mountain Retreat" so they can "Get Away From It All", so they buy 20 acres or so of trees and brush, clear just enough for an access road, house, and garage. Then they build, using highly flammable siding and roofing (after all, one must have the rustic look of cedar shingles!)
Many times, they have no well, just a 1500 gallon cistern. They have no clear space around their buildings, because such cleared space is not pretty.
Then, when the inevitable fire roars through, they lose it all because they did not do as the Forest Service tells them they should do. They did not give any consideration to fire control in their planning. A large Defensible Space is an absolute necessity around all buildings. 50 feet is barely adequate, 100 feet is better.
While my thoughts and prayers are with the folks back there who have lost it all, I also have a huge dose of reality from seeing what wildfires can and will do.
Stopping one is not like putting out a backyard bonfire. In fact, it can NOT be "put out", unless it is caught when very small. All the firefighters can do is try to contain it and let it burn out. When the fire makes its own wind, and can be dropping large embers over 1/4 mile in front of the fire line, this becomes nearly impossible, even with air attack (slurry bombers).
My only hope now is that they do not have a heavy rainy season, so they can avoid the mud slides that often follow such fires.

RE: Disconnect alarms for tow bar arms
Yes, it can be done, and would likely be quite easy to design and build.
But, think about it for a minute.
Out of all the tow bars that are on the road all summer long (and year 'round, for that matter), how many disconnect incidents have you heard of? How many people have you heard of that inspected their rig before driving off and found that mischief had been done (pins removed, hair pins stolen, etc.)?
Given the apparent low rate of incidents, how long do you think it would take to sell enough to make the initial investment (invention, patent, manufacturing cost, etc.) back?
It behooves each of us to keep reminding people (yes, even ourselves!) to inspect their tow at every stop, before driving off. EVERY time!

RE: Is the Ram 1500 finally catching up with the competition?
I have to wonder; why would anyone equate the number of lug bolts or nuts to payload?
All military Jeeps had 5 hole wheels, and were rated at 1/4 ton. The Dodge M37 series 3/4 ton trucks had 5 hole Budd wheels, and were rated at 1500 lbs. payload cross country and 2000 lbs on hard surfaced roads. Early Chevrolet cars had 6 hole wheels, as did Chevy half ton pickups.
I just don't see any definitive relationship between number of lugs and payload!

RE: Towing 4 down in snow
Install real snow tires on the towed vehicle. Be VERY careful with any auxiliary braking system; you do NOT want the brakes on the towed vehicle to lock up, as it may go sideways. Be cautious on curves; the towed may slide sideways due to centrifugal forces. Keep in mind that under certain conditions you may have to put chains on at least one axle of the toad, if the law requires it.
Personally, I avoid driving the motorhome on snow and ice. No way will I tow a vehicle in such conditions. When I have to tow a trailer on snow and ice, I turn the trailer brakes off. But that is just me.
Good luck.

RE: Friends from the "OOP'S" thread.
WOW!!
I have a great bunch of kids!!
For my upcoming birthday, they got together and got me a radio controlled truck with a 3.3 CC engine. It even has reverse and electric start. Of course, it is four wheel drive.
That thing is FAST! We took it out onto the lane for the engine break-in, and even at 1/4 to 1/2 throttle it runs at 35 to 45 MPH. There is an APP for a smart phone that gives a full instrument panel for it, and my son's phone worked great. It was nice to be able to watch the cylinder head temp while doing the break in runs.
Maybe I will have to get a phone that will accept the
APP...

RE: Near accident caused by failing tow bar
I used a very similar (if not identical) towbar made, I think, by Reese, to tow several different Jeeps for many years, all around the West. Those Jeeps were towed by a Class C motorhome, a Dodge one ton dually with 11.5 foot camper on it, and a Class A motorhome. The last trip it made was from Montana to Nevada, towing a modified Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited (suspension lift, body lift, engine lift, tummy tuck, custom bumpers, oversized tires, winch, 30 gallon fuel tank, custom roll bars, etc.).
I used many different ball mounts with it, including an adjustable one and an extension (41" long) under the 11.5 foot camper.
I never had any problems, certainly never had anything like what you are describing.
IMO, your incident was a one-of-a-kind occurrence, possible exacerbated by curbing the toad.

RE: Question about weight ratings
For s slightly different perspective, think of weight ratings in comparison to the highway signs that show a curve coming up, and tell you the speed you should be at to safely make the curve (on dry roads).
It is not a firm speed limit, it is a recommendation.
weight ratings are just that; ratings, not a firm limit.
In fact, my old 1994 Dodge Ram CTD one ton dually was registered for a GVW of 14,000 lbs. Legally, that was the only important number. I chose it because I knew I could never exceed it. AFAIK, I never did, even when hauling hay.

RE: Friends from the "OOP'S" thread.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
It looks like we will have highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s today and tomorrow.
We will be combining two celebrations this year, while the boys are home.
Thanksgiving, of course, and celebrating my 75th birthday a few days early.
Who'da thunk I would survive this long!

RE: Surviving the Rockies/winter in a 2WD truck
Should a FWD Escape with snow tires be able to cope with the winters?
Absolutely (SIL has one).
I forgot to mention that in my previous post. The answer is an unqualified YES! Our PT Cruiser convertible has no problem in the winter, even though I put mild M&S tread tires on it. I just didn't think the aggressive tread snow tires I normally buy were necessary for the front wheel drive PT. For once, I was right.

RE: Surviving the Rockies/winter in a 2WD truck
I grew up driving 4X2 vehicles in Northwestern Montana, back when winter meant SNOW; as in 2 to 4 feet out on the flats, with packed snow and ice on the highways all winter.
I started driving in a 1936 Ford pickup, (in 1957) went to a 1941 Buick Special, and in 1959 got a 1941 Chevy coupe.
Finally, in 1975, I bought my first 4X4. Except for the Dodge CTD 3500 dually I had, I have had 4X4 pickups mostly ever since. Does that mean I NEED 4X4? Not at all. I very rarely put my truck in four wheel drive.
However, the ATV with the snow plow on it is in four wheel drive nearly all winter.
Snow tires? ABSOLUTELY!! REAL: snow tires, that is, not "all season".
Weight in the back? OH, YES! Even in my 4X4 I carry 3 sixty to seventy pound sand bags on each side, behind the wheel wells, all winter. I will be buying them soon.
Studded tires? If you want them, they can't hurt, where legal.
Chains? I have them for the ATV for use when plowing snow, but otherwise I don't have any. When chains are required on the mountain passes, I don't go over them.